Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers fans fume after wasted trip
Darlington must reschedule another game following the controversial late postponement of Saturday's match at Cheltenham Town.[LNB] Referee Keith Stroud angered supporters of both clubs by waiting until after 1pm before calling the game off due to a frozen pitch.[LNB] Stroud is no stranger to controversy, having administered an astonishing total of 58 yellow cards and seven sendingsoff in only 15 matches this term.[LNB] But at Whaddon Road no players made it into Stroud's little black book as he postponed the game less than two hours before kick-off.[LNB] Overnight temperatures of minus seven degrees put the game under threat, causing the Hampshire official to carry out a 9am pitch inspection.[LNB] He delayed his decision until noon in the hope that the areas of the pitch in the shade would thaw, but then held a further inspection at 1pm.[LNB] Confirmation of the postponement was made at 1.10pm, by which stage most of Darlington's disgruntled travelling support were either at or near the ground.[LNB] Quakers' assistant manager Kevin Richardson explained Stroud's decision.[LNB] Overnight there was a really severe freeze, minus seven, and it affected an area of the pitch that the referee felt, for health and safety reasons, was dangerous, said Richardson.[LNB] The referee has to consider the safety of the players, the linesmen and himself.[LNB] He made three inspections and gave the game the best possible chance of being on.[LNB] He's a professional person and has done what he believes is best for everybody concerned.[LNB] He called the game off and he wasn't going to change his mind, so we have to accept that.[LNB] Richardson reasoned that Stroud delayed his final decision in the hope that the pitch would thaw. He added: You've always got that debate, should games be called off earlier to stop fans travelling[LNB] But he gave the game a chance by having inspections at 9am, noon and 1pm.[LNB] Everybody wanted it on but the weather did not improve throughout the day and he has to make a decision.[LNB] Some people will say it's the right one, some people will argue it's the wrong one, but in these circumstances what do you do[LNB] I feel sorry for the fans because they have travelled a long way for nothing.[LNB] Although Darlington had no qualms with the game being off, the timing of the decision was far from convenient for supporters who'd travelled from the North-East.[LNB] Saturday was the seventh postpoment of the season and last year fans twice had to suffer the financial cost and inconvenience of late postponements at Lincoln and Bradford.[LNB] Saturday comes just a fortnight after a late decision to postpone Quakers' home game meant a wasted trip for Aldershot Town supporters.[LNB] Both Darlington and Cheltenham have free dates in February and March, but a date in late April would suit Quakers as they already have a demanding schedule during the next two months.[LNB]
